Geo hub

Abstract

A structural connection device is disclosed and is formed of a plurality of hub components having extending ear pairs for connecting with elongated struts or the like for constructing spatial structures. The hub components are positioned in stacked abutting relationship and connected into a unitary device via a single elongated rod connector disposed through and sealed within a large single axially aligned perforation extending centrally through each of the hub components. Adjacent hub components are rotated relative to each other prior to assembly to provide an angular relationship between the respective ear pairs of adjacent hub components. The elongated rod connector 16 (FIGS. 1-2), and 16a (FIG. 3) is fixed to the hub components by shrink fitting, force fitting or adhesively bonding. Other connection embodiments utilize a key-keyway arrangement (FIGS. 4-5a), a cross-pin arrangement (FIGS. 6-7a) and a star or gear shaped connector element (FIGS. 8-9). Custom angled ear pairs are provided by utilizing a center connector element having a rounded end 117 and bolting one or more ear pairs 119 thereto at the desired angular relationship (FIG. 12).

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A connection for structural members comprising: at least a pair of hub components disposed in abutting relationship,   each of said hub components having a central portion and a plurality of spaced ear pairs integrally extending from the circumference of said central portion,   each said ear pair adapted to connect with the end of a structural member,   said hub components being rotated with respect to each other to define an angular relationship between the respective ear pairs of adjacent hub components,   said central portion of each said hub component being provided with a through opening disposed in axial alignment with an identical through opening in an abutting hub component,   rod means extending through and positively attached to the through opening of each said central portion to connect said hub components into a unitary structure and serving to transfer all forces and moments between the individual hub components,   said rod means having at least one end thereof forming a flush smooth surface on the same plane and in contiguous relationship with the surface of one of said hub components,   said rod means being an elongated cylinder having a diameter equal to at least two-thirds the width of said central portion of each said hub component and having a length substantially equal to the combined thickness of said hub components.   
     
     
       2. A connection as in claim 1 wherein said at least a pair of hub components consists of a pair of identical hub components, each of said identical hub components having four spaced ear pairs disposed ninety degrees apart about said central portion and said identical hub components being rotated forty-five degrees relative to each other. 
     
     
       3. A connection as in claim 1 wherein said at least a pair of hub components consists of at least one hub component having three equally spaced ear pairs disposed about said central portion and at least one hub component having six equally spaced ear pairs disposed about said central portion and wherein said hub components are rotated thirty degrees relative to each other. 
     
     
       4. A connection as in claim 1 wherein said rod means is of cylindrical configuration, said rod means being formed of the same base material as said hub components and being expansion fitted into the through openings of said hub components. 
     
     
       5. The connection of claim 1 including an adhesive interposed between said rod means and each member of said hub components along the entire length of said rod means. 
     
     
       6. The connection of claim 1 including said rod means being provided with at least two spaced transverse passageways therethrough, at least one transverse opening extending through said central portion of each member of said hub components, said at least one transverse opening being disposed in alignment with one of said at least two transverse spaced passageways of said central passageway and a locking cross-pin disposed completely through said at least one transverse opening and one of said at least two transverse passageways to thereby unitarily lock said hub components together and prevent relative rotation therebetween. 
     
     
       7. The connection of claim 6 including a first adhesive coating interposed between each said cross-pin and the transverse passageways and the transverse openings receiving said cross-pins, and a second adhesive coating disposed along the entire length of said rod means and between said rod means and said hub components.   
     
     
       8. The connection of claim 1 including said rod means being provided with at least a portion of the length thereof of slightly larger diameter than the through openings in said central portions, said rod means further being provided with a slight tapered exterior surface along at least a portion of the length thereof and said rod means being forcibly positioned within the through openings to provide a press-fit connection therein. 
     
     
       9. The connection of claim 1 including said rod means having a longitudinal serrated exterior surface and being formed of a slightly larger diameter than the through opening in said central portion, said rod means being forcibly positioned within the through opening of each said central portion to connect said hub components into a unitary structure, and further including an adhesive coating interposed between said rod means and said hub components along the entire length of said rod means. 
     
     
       10. The connection as in claim 1 wherein said rod means is provided with at least one elongated key slot extending at least over a major portion of the exterior surface length thereof and the through openings in each said central portion also being provided with at least one elongated key slot extending the length of the through opening, said at least one elongated key slot in each said central portion being disposed in axial alignment with each other when said hub components are disposed in angular rotated relationship, said at least one elongated key slot in said rod means being disposed in face-to-face alignment with said at least one axially aligned key slot in said central portions, and unitary key means positioned within and filling said face-to-face aligned key slots to lock said hub components against relative rotation. 
     
     
       11. The connection of claim 1 wherein said rod means is provided with a pointed star configured circumferential exterior surface along the entire length thereof and the through openings in each member of said hub components are provided with interior flutes and ribs that mate with and receive said pointed star circumferential surface of said rod means. 
     
     
       12. The connection of claim 11 wherein said rod means is formed with a diameter a few thousandths larger than the through openings in said hub components and is expansion fitted therein. 
     
     
       13. The connection of claim 11 wherein said rod means is formed with a diameter a few thousandths larger than the through openings in said hub components and is force fitted therein. 
     
     
       14. The connection of claim 11 wherein said rod means is formed with a diameter essentially the same as that of the through openings in said hub components so as to form a close fit therein and including an adhesive layer interposed between said rod means and said hub components. 
     
     
       15. The connection of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced ear pairs extending from said central portion is a number of ear pairs selected from the numbers two, three, four and six ear pairs with each ear pair being constructed and arranged to receive an end of one of said structural members and having a plurality of pin members extending through said structural member and the ear pair receiving said structural member, said plurality of pin members being a number selected from the numbers two, four, and six, each said pin member having a knurled exterior surface over a portion of the length at one end thereof to provide a binding frictional fit between said pin and said structural member and thereby assist in maintaining said pin through said structural member and said pair of ears receiving said structural member. 
     
     
       16. A connection for structural members comprising: at least a pair of hub components disposed in abutting relationship,   each of said hub components having a central portion and a plurality of spaced ear pairs integrally extending from the circumference of said central portion,   each said ear pair adapted to connect with the end of a structural member,   said hub components being rotated with respect to each other to define an angular relationship between the respective ear pairs of adjacent hub components,   said central portion of each said hub component being provided with a through opening disposed in axial alignment with an identical through opening in an abutting hub component,   rod means extending through and positively attached to the through opening of each said central portion to connect said hub components into a unitary structure and serving to transfer all forces and moments between the individual hub components,   said rod means having at least one end thereof forming a flush smooth surface with one of said hub components;   said rod means being provided with a rounded end portion extending from one of said hub components and at least one ear pair structure being bolted to said rounded end of said rod means.   
     
     
       17. A method for securing together at least two hub components to form a connection for a plurality of structural members comprising: providing at least a pair of hub components having a central portion with axial through openings therein and a plurality of ear pairs extending from the periphery thereof,   positioning the hub components in stacked abutting relationship with the through openings therein being in axial alignment,   providing an elongated rod connector element of slightly larger diameter than that of the through openings,   super cooling the elongated rod connector element by immersion in dry ice or liquid nitrogen for a period of time necessary to cause a rod connector element temperature differential of approximately 215° C. relative to room temperature to cause thermal reduction in the dimensions thereof,   removing the super cooled rod connector element from the cooling medium and rapidly and centrally positioning the rod connector element within the through openings of the hub components,   and permitting the super-cooled rod and hub components to attain room temperature to thereby effect an expansion fit of the rod connector element within the hub components.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 including the further step of providing an adhesive coating on the through openings of the hub components prior to the step of positioning the rod connector element therein. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17 wherein the hub components and the elongated rod connector element are all formed of the same base material to thereby prevent galvanic action therebetween when exposed to the atmosphere. 
     
     
       20. A method for securing together multiple hub components to form a connection for a plurality of elongated structural members comprising: providing multiple hub components each having a central portion, an axial through opening and a plurality of ear pairs extending from the periphery thereof for receiving an end of the elongated structural member,   stacking the hub components to axially align the through openings therein,   rotating adjacent hub components relative to each other to provide an angular relationship of each ear pair on a hub component relative to an ear pair on the adjacent hub component selected from the angles of thirty, sixty and ninety degrees,   providing an elongated rod connector element of slightly larger diameter than that of the through openings and applying pressure to force fit the elongated rod connector element within the axially aligned through openings,   providing one end of the elongated rod connector element with a rounded tip surface extending from the connected hub components,   drilling and tapping a hole within the rounded surface at a selected angle thereon, and   bolting an ear pair to the rounded surface to receive an end of an elongated structural member.